When 40 or so Treetops friends gathered in April at the San Francisco home of Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor, magic happened. The first West Coast CTT reunion in recent memory, the get-together was an upbeat, galvanizing evening of rekindled friendships and powerful connections. Our hosts' gracious welcome—including home-made Camp Treetops signs lining the front steps—immediately put everyone at ease and conveyed a sense of warmth and belonging that only grew stronger throughout the evening.
Bay Area Reunion Attendees
Dennis Aftergut Susan Andrews Anne and Ian Benham David and Jenny Bond & children Tyras and Nicole Bookman Zac Bookman Andrea Canapary Gael Chandler and Sherry Green Helen Cohen Karen and John Culpepper Carolyn Feinstein Emily Feinstein Kimberly Gray Ruth Harzula and Chris Daunt Liz Hilton Hock Bill Localio Susie Localio Sheri Powers and Alex Anderson Gillian Printon and David Rose David Stewart Jim Steyer Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor Geoff Strawbridge Colin Thompson and Victoria Manley Liz Wise and Lydia Fiero Jeff and Natalie Woods
Camp Director Karen Culpepper shared news of Treetops today and showed slides from the old days that helped jog memories. She also brought along an incredible scrapbook recently uncovered that was presented to the Haskells back in 1954 to celebrate their 25th year as Treetops directors. (See the eZine version below.) Then, starting with longtime Treetops staffer Susie Localio, people started sharing what Treetops has meant to them.
What most everyone touched on in some way or other was the profound impact Treetops has had on people. According to what folks shared, Treetops has given people their values, molded identities, preserved childhood, offered role models, sparked new interests, and otherwise transformed lives. For not the first time, we heard Treetops called the most formative experience in a young person's development. And for all the earnestness of the reflections and sharing of memories, the gathering was also just plain fun. No one wanted to leave. No one wanted the evening to end. And it's not likely to be forgotten anytime soon.
Check out the slideshow of the reunion.
See pages from the Haskells' Scrapbook
(Click anywhere on the eZine below to view in full screen.)
4382 Cascade Rd | Lake Placid, NY 12946 | Ph 518 523 9329 | F 518 523 4858
